I deeply enjoyed this utterly original middle grade read. There is magic, mythological creatures, portals to a mirror universe, a fun in-world literature element, and ghosts. There are 3 main characters and one of them is irritating, but the others make up for it. I am truly excited to find out where this story goes in the sequel. ( )

What a journey! This book did at first seem like it was so scary and would be better suited for older kids, but it softened a bit after a spoooooky beginning... (I should also note that I am a chicken when it comes to spooky stuff!) :D

Action-packed, a LOT going on... I did start to feel a little overwhelmed and the middle slowed down a little, action-wise, but this was probably because it was building up to the dramatic. (No spoilers!)

I love the maps in the book. I'm a sucker for maps and I pored over them. I felt like a kid again. Really fun read, good for older middle schoolers and above.

Entertaining story about two young thieves who get more than they bargained for when they break into a "deserted" mansion and find their way into an imaginary realm where the world they knew is duplicated - but with strange and even horrifying differences.

Those horrors are now spilling over into the "real" world.

The story was engrossing, and I especially liked Arthur trying to pattern himself as a "Gentleman Thief" after the hero of his favorite adventure series.

I was concerned, however, by some murders that take place "off-stage" to the central action. Wally learns details about the killings afterward because he is able to talk to spirits.

Would young readers be upset by the detail, for example, of a woman who was torn apart by a monster? Or a girl who was killed by a man who was trying to resurrect his dead wife? These seem like morbid details in a story that is otherwise billed as having "lots of laughs."

I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley